Device for repairing broken slats



(No Model.)

I. Z. MERRIAM. DEVICE FOR REPAIRING'BROKEN SLATS.

No. 458,319.- Patented Aug. 25, 1891.

UNITED STATES PATENT O ICE.

IRAM Z. MERRIAM, OF IVHITEVATER, IVISCONSIN.

DEVICE FOR REPAIRING BROKEN SLATS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 458,319, dated August 25, 1891. Application filed March 12, 1891. Serial No. 384,753. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, IRAM Z. MERRIAM, of Whitewater, in the county of \Valworth and State of lVisconsin, have invented certain Improvements in Devices for Splicing Slats of Harvester-Aprons, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improved device for mending or splicing the wooden slats which are used in the endless carrier-aprons of grain-harvesters and in similar places.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple device by which the two parts of the fractured slat may be permanently united and securely attached to the apron; and to this end it consists in a sheet-metal clasp or sheath adapted to be applied over and around the contiguous ends of the slat, the teeth adapted to be lapped down on the back, these teeth being of such form as to lap past each other.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents in perspective my device as it appears when in use. Fig. 2 is a cross-section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a view of the device as it appears when viewed from the back of the apron. Fig. at is a perspective view of the device as it appears previous to its application. Fig. 5 is a view of the same with its fingers folded as in action. Fig. 6 is a view of the blank from which the device is formed.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the canvas apron; B, one of the transverse slat-s attached thereto and supposed to be fractured transversely, and O is the splicing device applied thereto. The device is formed by cutting or punching from sheet metal a flat blank, such as shown in Fig. 6, having on opposite edges long fingers 0, those on one edge being arranged opposite the intervening spaces at the opposite edge. This blank is first bent into the form shown in Fig. 4, so that its fingers stand up along the opposite edges at right angles to its middle or body portion, the space between the two series of fingers being, such as to admit of their embracing the slat between them.

The device is applied by placing it astride of the slat, so as to lap over the butt-ends, and thrusting the fingers through the canvas, and thereafter bending orfolding the protruding fingers downward flatly on the back of the canvas past each other, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5. The fingers thus arranged to lap past or between each other secure the device very firmly in position. They also produce a practically continuous or uninterrupted surface on the back of the canvas, so that it will travel with a smooth and noiseless action around the carrying-roller.

I am aware that a fastening device has been constructed with short fingers at opposite edges to straddle the slat and fold down on the back of the canvas; but in such case the fingers were of such size and arrangement that they stood end to end instead of lapping past each other. The result was that the device was frequently torn loose and that it ran with a noisy action about the carrying-rolls.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. The clasp for repairing the slats of conveyer-aprons, consisting of a sheet-metal plate having at the extreme opposite edges the fingers adapted to fold inward past or between each other.

2. In combination with an apron and a slat thereon, a metallic clasp embracing the slat and having at opposite edges teeth projecting through the apron and folded downward on its back, the teeth of one edge extending between those of the opposite edge, as described and shown.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand, this 23d day of February, 1891, in the presence of two attesting witnesses.

IRAM Z. MERRIAM.

lVitnesses:

E. TUCKER, T. O. HOLLENBERGER. 

